Smith upset over glove, self in Angels loss

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Joe Smith was frustrated about a lot of things, including leaving a pitch over the plate for pinch hitter Joe Panik to drive up the middle for a game-winning hit.

What put Los Angeles’ set-up man in a bad mood to start was having to shorten a string on his glove as ordered by home plate umpire Bill Miller.

”I’ve made over 500 appearances in this game and all my gloves are the same,” Smith said after the Angels fell to the San Francisco Giants 3-2 Friday night. ”Nobody has said anything before. He made me cut it.”

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Smith, who entered the game with a 0.90 ERA, also took responsibility for walking two guys, one intentionally, ahead of Panik.

”I didn’t execute,” he said. ”I was behind every hitter and I throw a pitch right down the middle and I get beat.”

Smith gave up an infield single to Buster Posey, a sacrifice bunt to Justin Maxwell and then walked Andrew Susac, who singled in a run in the seventh that put the Giants ahead.

C.J. Wilson lasted seven innings, giving up two runs – one earned – on four hits. He walked one and struck out five.

”We didn’t do a couple things we’ll need to do to win games,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ”They put the ball in play when they had to, and in-between C.J. pitched just a great game. He got through seven and we couldn’t take advantage of it.”

Scioscia asked for replays three times during the game, twice getting the call overturned. The call that was upheld was the most frustrating. Kole Calhoun was ruled out at second on a force play in the seventh.

”It was 100 percent obvious that Kole Calhoun was safe,” Scioscia said. ”I do not know how that play was not over turned. That’s the frustrating thing about replays.”

David Freese hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Erick Aybar with the tying run in the top of the eighth. Aybar reached on a Matt Duffy fielding error.

Matt Joyce hit a game-tying single in the seventh, chasing Giants starter Chris Heston and leaving runners on first and third with one out. Both runners were stranded.

FEELING THE PAIN:

Smith threw a pitch during the ninth that hit Miller squarely in the knee, allowing pinch runner Gregor Blanco to move up to third and delayed the game.

Smith said catcher Chris Ianetta wanted a slider and he threw a fastball.

”My leg just spasmed,” Miller said. ”It took a minute to get the feeling right.”

Susac said it sounded like it hit wood.

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Angels: IF Albert Pujols (sore hamstring) did some running and was scheduled to go through a baseball workout, including batting practice. ”We’ll see how he does and how things line up for tomorrow,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. The Angels recalled IF Efren Navarro from Triple-A Salt Lake as added depth at first base. IF Grant Green was sent down to make room.

UP NEXT:

Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (2-1, 2.28) makes his first career against the Giants on Saturday. He’s 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 13 interleague appearances, including six starts.

Giants: RHP Tim Hudson (0-2, 3.91) will be making his 26th start against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, but his first since 2011 when he was with the Atlanta Braves. He’s 13-7 against the Angels with a 3.85 ERA.